MAM
Budweiser APAC announces key leadership changes in South Asia and East Asia
MUMBAI: Reiterating its commitment to growth in the Asia Pacific region, Budweiser Brewing Company APAC Limited, part of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s leading brewer today announced changes to its executive leadership teams in its South and East Asia business units. The company announced the appointment of Kartikeya Sharma as President – South Asia succeeding Ben Verhaert who is now appointed as President – East Asia. These leadership announcements further demonstrate the company’s commitment to drive accelerated growth, elevate go-to-market strategies and innovations, and cultivate talent from within.
Commenting on this leadership announcement, Jan Craps, Executive Director & CEO, Budweiser APAC and President – APAC, AB InBev said, “I am pleased to announce key leadership changes to our India and South Korea teams which is a strong reflection of our strategic roadmap for the region. Ben and Kartikeya have played a vital role in our continued growth and success across geographies, transforming our portfolio, delivering strong brand growth and curating meaningful experiences to our consumers. With their deep understanding of the consumer coupled with the dynamics of the industry and commercial acumen, I am confident that Ben and Kartikeya in their new leadership roles will position us for continued success in APAC. I would also take this opportunity to thank Bruno Cosentino, the current President of East Asia for his many contributions to our company as he takes on a new leadership role to support our company’s growth in Africa.”
Ben Verhaert has been with the company for nearly two decades and has a solid track record in sales, logistics and business unit management. He started his career with the company in Belgium quickly distinguishing himself through positions in field sales and as head of Off-Trade sales. He next served as country head of Luxembourg prior to leading Southern Europe operations as President where he accelerated topline and share growth in France & Italy. He took charge as President – South Asia business in May 2017 and led the integration with SABMiller to create One Team, One Culture and One Management System. Thanks to his strategic vision, he was able to stabilize the business in a volatile environment, delivering a solid topline growth and driving sustainable brand performance. He also spearheaded the company’s Better World dream, promoting beer as a drink of moderation and ease of doing business as well as sustainability initiatives in India.
Speaking on his new appointment, Ben Verhaert, President – South Asia, AB InBev said, “Asia is an exciting market for us and it is with mixed emotions that I leave India at what is an exciting moment. I am elated to join the team in South Korea. This is a great opportunity for me to drive our robust growth agenda in East Asia, reinforcing our leadership position, embracing innovative strategies to capture white-space opportunities along with building our commercial and digital capabilities. I look forward to working with the teams and growing our business in the region."
Kartikeya brings over 14 years of experience in marketing and business development to his new role. He joined AB InBev in 2005 and led business development in Africa, Brand management of Corona in Labatt Breweries in Canada and was part of the team that set up the India business via a Joint Venture, where he managed both Marketing and Trade Marketing. As VP Marketing and more recently VP Sales, Kartikeya played an integral role in driving sustainable portfolio performance, profitable growth and led the team to achieve category-leading brand equity for Budweiser and Budweiser Magnum as well as several transformational initiatives.
Moving into his new role, Kartikeya Sharma, Vice President Sales – India, AB InBev said, “I am humbled and excited to take on this new role and steer the company in South Asia. Ben has laid a strong foundation which I hope to build on and deliver on our business objectives. I see great opportunity ahead for the company in this market. I look forward to working with the teams, our business partners and all relevant stakeholders to tap into high-growth opportunities, supercharge our commercial innovations that will allow us to fortify our presence and deliver value to our consumers.”
Both Ben and Kartikeya will report to Jan Craps, CEO Budweiser APAC and President – APAC, AB InBev. These appointments are effective 1 January 2020.
Brands
KPMG names Gary Wingrove as global chairman and CEO from October
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MUMBAI: KPMG has chosen continuity with a forward tilt. The firm has announced that Gary Wingrove will take over as global chairman and CEO of KPMG International, beginning a four year term from 1 October 2026. Currently serving as global chief operating officer, Wingrove steps into the top role after being nominated by the global board and elected by the global council.
A KPMG veteran with over 25 years at the firm, Wingrove has been closely involved in shaping its recent trajectory. As global COO, he has helped drive the firm’s Collective Strategy, focusing on operational integration, global investments and the steady expansion of the KPMG Delivery Network. He has also been at the forefront of KPMG’s digital push, including the rollout of AI enabled solutions across its global operations.
Before his global role, Wingrove served as CEO of KPMG Australia for nearly a decade, where he led a period of strong growth, almost doubling revenue, profitability and headcount while steering a cultural reset.
He succeeds Bill Thomas, who has led KPMG since 2017 and will work alongside Wingrove over the next six months to ensure a smooth transition.
Thomas leaves behind a firm that looks markedly different from when he took charge. Under his leadership, KPMG’s global revenues have risen by 55 per cent, and its workforce has expanded to more than 276,000 people. He also unified the network of member firms under the Collective Strategy, aligning priorities and strengthening governance.
His tenure saw heavy investment in technology and partnerships, with alliances spanning Microsoft, Google Cloud, SAP, Oracle and ServiceNow. These collaborations, along with platforms like KPMG Clara, have helped the firm scale its AI-led offerings and sharpen its competitive edge.
Beyond growth, Thomas also pushed improvements in audit quality and sustainability. Initiatives such as a multiyear global sustainability strategy and the Our Impact Plan have aimed to embed long term thinking into the firm’s operations and client services.
For Wingrove, the brief is clear but evolving. He has signalled a focus on agility, deep expertise and technology driven solutions as clients navigate an increasingly complex business landscape. He also emphasised KPMG’s identity as a people first organisation, supported by technology and unified through its global network.
The timing of the leadership change comes as KPMG continues to grow, reporting a 5.1 per cent rise in global revenue in FY25, with gains across tax and legal, audit and advisory services. Growth was recorded across all regions, despite a challenging macro environment.
As Wingrove prepares to take charge, the firm appears set on a familiar path with a sharper digital edge. Same playbook, perhaps, but with a renewed focus on speed, scale and smarter solutions.
